CVE-2003-1187 in PHPKIT
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in include.php in PHPKIT 1.6.02 and 1.6.03 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the contact_email parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1187 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the PHPKIT content management system version 1.6.02 and 1.6.03. This security weakness resides in the include.php file and specifically targets the contact_email parameter, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic XSS attack vector that exploits improper input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the application's codebase. Such flaws typically arise when user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web pages without adequate filtering or encoding measures, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist and execute in the victim's browser environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of the contact_email parameter within the include.php script. When the application processes user input through this parameter, it fails to properly sanitize or encode the data before rendering it in web responses. This omission creates an environment where malicious actors can submit specially crafted payloads containing script tags or other HTML elements that get executed when legitimate users view the affected page. The vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. This weakness category encompasses various forms of XSS attacks where attackers can inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the affected system.
The operational impact of CVE-2003-1187 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform sophisticated attacks against users of the vulnerable PHPKIT installation. A successful exploitation could allow threat actors to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify page content, or harvest sensitive information from authenticated sessions. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in public-facing web applications. Users who visit pages containing the malicious payload would unknowingly execute the injected scripts, creating a persistent threat that could affect multiple users depending on the application's user base and the scope of the affected functionality. This type of vulnerability directly maps to the attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for Scripting, where adversaries leverage web-based scripting languages to execute malicious code.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve multiple layers of defense to protect against cross-site scripting attacks. The primary recommendation involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the include.php file, ensuring that all user-supplied data is sanitized before being incorporated into web responses. This includes applying HTML entity encoding to prevent script execution and implementing strict input validation to reject potentially malicious payloads. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution sources and reduce the impact of successful XSS attacks. Additionally, upgrading to patched versions of PHPKIT that address this specific vulnerability is crucial, as the vulnerability has been resolved in subsequent releases. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security testing of web applications to identify similar input validation weaknesses that could create additional attack vectors. Regular security audits and web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, while user education about recognizing suspicious web content contributes to overall security posture improvement.